Relief in sight for Wonthaggi planning fiasco

PROGRESS has been made on the Wonthaggi planning fiasco.

Council appointed auditors, PRENSA, have competed their Preliminary Risk Screen Assessments (PRSAs) on hundreds of blocks in Wonthaggi’s North-East residential growth precinct.

And the outcome of their assessments is due on July 1.

If they follow the pattern established by developers who cleared 80 acres in the Northern Views Estate and recently 114 blocks in other parts of the precinct, finding zero sign of any of the alleged “contamination”, the Victorian Planning Authority and the State Government will be left with massive egg on their face.

But don’t count your chickens, they say, so we’ll wait.

The Bass Coast Shire Council issued the following update (June 14, 2024) by CEO Greg Box:

“Over the past two weeks, an environmental auditor has been working to bring certainty to landowners impacted by the Victorian Planning Authority’s Wonthaggi North-East Environmental Audit Overlay.

“These Preliminary Risk Screen Assessments (PRSAs) need to be completed to provide the necessary justification to the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and the State Government to remove the overlay.

“While our Council appointed auditors, PRENSA, conduct their assessments, there has been some good news of PRSAs organised by developers as I wrote earlier this week in my update, with a total of 114 properties being cleared and no further investigations required.

“This is obviously a huge relief to those landowners and Council are currently in the process of notifying landowners as the results are known.

“The PRSAs are continuing for the remainder of the properties in the areas impacted by the Environmental Audit Overlay and we will share those results as we get them. PRENSA have completed their fieldwork and will now develop a report to present their findings. We expect to have the report by July 1.

“We sincerely thank all landowners for their co-operation and for their continued patience during this stressful time.

“These assessments are being co-funded by Bass Coast Shire Council and the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA), with no cost to landowners.

“Council does not have the power to impose or remove the overlay, but certainly has an important role to play in representing the interests of the landowners in discussions with the State Government, VPA and EPA.

“Like landowners and the Wonthaggi North-East Residents Community Action Group, our desired outcome has always been the removal of the overlay. We have focussed our resources on this action.

“While the news so far is positive on the assessment process, we await the findings of the appointed Auditor at the end of this month to determine the outcome for the remaining properties. There may be some follow-up investigations needed and we will deal with that if required.

“I have written to the Planning Minister to request they facilitate a planning scheme amendment to remove the Environmental Audit Overlay (EAO) from properties within the precinct which have fulfilled the obligations of the overlay.

“I can assure you it is Council’s highest priority to work in the interests of residents and landholders. Landowners have told us their priority is getting certainty and that is what we are doing,” regards Greg Box Chief Executive Officer.

If the Planning Minister won’t initiate an amendment to remove the overlays from individual titles, the shire can sponsor its own amendment.